Car question for Cool....

[bornaneer]

We recently purchased a 2017 Toyota Sienna AWD van and gave my wife's 2WD Sienna to our daughter. My wife has several times experienced some significant hesitation when punching it to get out into traffic. Engine roars but car doesn't seem to get going quickly. She never had that issue with the 2WD Sienna which was a 2014. Had it back to the dealer but they said everything checked out OK. Do you think it may be due to the drive train differences in the AWD vs 2WD. Thanks in advance for you thoughts on this.

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

We recently purchased a 2017 Toyota Sienna AWD van and gave my wife's 2WD Sienna to our daughter. My wife has several times experienced some significant hesitation when punching it to get out into traffic. Engine roars but car doesn't seem to get going quickly. She never had that issue with the 2WD Sienna which was a 2014. Had it back to the dealer but they said everything checked out OK. Do you think it may be due to the drive train differences in the AWD vs 2WD. Thanks in advance for you thoughts on this.

If I may... the difference is probably the additional weight of the AWD system. Check the link on the review of the 2017 Sienna AWD, the reviewers mention somewhat of the same thing as you are describing, attributed to the weight of the AWD option pushing total vehicle weight to over 4,700 #s. They also commented on the new 8 speed auto trans as not being up to snuff for this power train combo. Is this what you have?

https://www.cars.com/articles/does-...ngine-update-boost-its-swagger-1420690584916/

 

[bornaneer]

If I may... the difference is probably the additional weight of the AWD system. Check the link on the review of the 2017 Sienna AWD, the reviewers mention somewhat of the same thing as you are describing, attributed to the weight of the AWD option pushing total vehicle weight to over 4,700 #s. They also commented on the new 8 speed auto trans as not being up to snuff for this power train combo. Is this what you have?

https://www.cars.com/articles/does-...ngine-update-boost-its-swagger-1420690584916/

Thanks, great info.....exactly described the problem. Yes its an 8 speed. I wonder if a 2017 2WD with the 8 speed will react in the same manner.

 

[moe]

Engine roars but car doesn't seem to get going quickly.

Even though it's not, it sounds like a CVT (continuous variable transmission) or at least they act that way, hate those things.